Microglia are immune system cells associated with senile plaques containing β-amyloid (Aβ)
in Alzheimer's disease. Although microglia are an integral part of senile plaques, their role in
the development of Alzheimer's disease is not known. Because microglia are phagocytic
cells, it has been suggested that microglia may function as plaque-attacking scavenger cells.
Microglia bind and internalize microaggregates of Aβ that resemble those present in dense
Alzheimer's disease plaques. In this study, we compared the degradation by microglia of Aβ …